Great British Summer Savings: millions of pounds saved by families

A VAT cut from 20% to 5% on kids' meals in restaurants and tickets to attractions like theatres and soft play has been in place since 25 June, allowing families to enjoy their summer holiday activities for less, giving people breathing space during the cost-of-living squeeze.

The scheme ends at midnight on Tuesday (September 1) and the Chancellor has urged people to make use of the savings over this bank holiday weekend.

Yesterday the Chancellor visited Haven's Kiln Park holiday park in Pembrokeshire, as the company announced that as a direct result of Great British Summer Savings families holidaying on its parks have got back more than £4 million.

Around 251,000 families have benefited from the savings across Haven sites UK wide, and 39,000 families across Wales.

Over 2,100 eateries and attractions across the UK are now listed on the government's deal finder website - one of the fastest digital tools ever launched in partnership between business and government - where families can search for discounts close to them.

Businesses from across the UK have been passing on the savings, including Barleylands Farm Park in Essex, Playdale Farm Park in Scarborough and Alexandra Palace which has offered savings on activities including boating lake pedalos and family dining. Adventure Attractions, the operator of Bournemouth Pier, has gone further by removing the historic Pier Toll and offering families discounts on attractions.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP, said:

I want every family to get out and enjoy the bank holiday weekend by taking advantage of the final days of Great British Summer Savings.

This government is determined to give people a bit of breathing space. So families can afford the days out that make the summer holidays special. Whilst giving our world-class attractions and businesses a welcome boost in trade.

Simon Palethorpe, CEO of Haven, said:

Great British Summer Savings has helped us put more smiles on more faces this summer - with over half a million youngsters receiving Haven activity vouchers. That's half a million more reasons for families to make memories together at the seaside.

Great British Summer Savings is a good example of Government and businesses, like Haven, working together to keep costs down for families who choose a British break - supporting jobs and boosting the coastal economies where we operate.

ODEON, which joined the scheme at its launch in June, has said that more than 1.2 million guests have benefited from discounted cinema trips through Great British Summer Savings.

Greene King, another participating business, has said that they have sold more than 1.1 million children's meals and recorded more than 80,000 entries to its Wacky Warehouse soft play venues, resulting in cumulative savings for customers of more than £740,000.

Merlin, operator of iconic destinations including Alton Towers, LEGOLAND Windsor and the London Eye, welcomed almost 5 million guests to its UK attractions between 25th June and now, helping families enjoy even better value days out.

Support will continue for households with measures announced over the last month like the £2 cap on bus fares in 2027 and removing VAT from electricity bills will continue to give families breathing space in the months ahead.

Action to slash business rates by 20% for pubs, social clubs and live music venues will also boost Britain's hospitality sector which has been supported by the increased footfall attracted by the discounts created by Great British Summer Savings.

Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, said:

The Great British Summer Savings scheme has helped more families enjoy memorable days out together this summer, while providing a welcome boost for destinations across the country.

We were pleased to pass these savings on to our guests at Merlin's UK attractions, making visits more accessible and helping even more families create lasting memories during the school holidays.

Suzie Welch, Managing Director UKI, Odeon Cinemas Group said:

ODEON is delighted to be part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme, helping to offer even greater value to our guests. It was fantastic to launch the scheme at ODEON Milton Keynes on 25 June, alongside Sir Keir Starmer and children from local schools.

Since introducing the reduced rates across 100 ODEON cinemas, more than 1.2 million guests have benefited from the offer and enjoyed a trip to the cinema. Alongside a fantastic summer film slate - including Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, Moana and many more - the scheme has helped make the big-screen experience even more accessible for families across the UK.

Lucy Fenner, Commercial Director at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust said:

It's been fantastic to see so many families making the most of the Great British Summer Savings scheme at Ally Pally. Government initiatives that can support charities and businesses like ours to help families and communities enjoy more affordable days out, get active, and make the most of green parks and places on their doorstep, can make a real difference, especially in the school holidays.

More information

The VAT rate on the following eligible activities is cut from 20% to 5% and applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland:

• Children's menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
• Children's and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
• Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.

Families can find Great British Summer Savings close to them in seconds by following these easy steps online:

1. Search https://summersavings.gov.uk
2. Enter your postcode
3. Adjust the dial to select how far you want to travel from home
4. Optionally search by type of attraction or food offers you are looking for
5. Click the 'Find offers' button
6. See a list of businesses in your areas offering discounts and their location on the map
7. When you see a restaurant or attraction that's best for your family, all you need to do is book a table or buy a ticket as you usually would and your discount is automatically taken off your price

Additional information from Haven:

• Haven has provided £7.50 onsite activity credits for any booked child on a holiday package where the Great British Summer Savings scheme applied. Vouchers are redeemable on the full range of activities across its 39 parks. In additions, all families are able to take advantage of the VAT saving on children's menus.